Men's Hoops Returns Home Tonight

Game Preview Liberty returns home for a quick one-game stanza when the Campbell Fighting Camels invade the Vines Center on Friday evening. Tip-off is scheduled for 7 p.m. The contest serves as the second of two which will be played this season between the two programs. Friday's contest will air on the Flames Sports Network (flagship WRVL 88.3 FM) with Jerry Edwards providing play-byplay. Additionally, an Internet audio broadcast on LibertyFlames.com will be available. The game will be televised on the Flames Television Network (Mid-Atlantic Sports Network and the Liberty Channel) with Ray Jones and Tim Scarborough calling the action. Additionally, an Internet video webcast on the BigSouthSports.com will be available (a Big South EDGE subscription is required).

Liberty Update The Flames enter tonight's contest in the midst of a two-game skid, dropping games on the road at Campbell and Virginia Tech. After leading at the half against the Hokies, Virginia Tech opened the second stanza on an 8-0 run, catapulting them to a 58-46 victory. Alex McLean scored 14 points for the Flames in a losing cause. B.J. Jenkins and McLean each scored 20 points in a loss at Campbell on Dec. 15.

Last time out in the Vines Center, Liberty topped future Big South member Presbyterian, 69-47, on Dec. 4. McLean led the way with 25 points and nine rebounds.

Liberty versus Campbell Tonight's contest is the 17th all-time meeting between the two schools in basketball. Campbell leads the series, 9-7. Prior to the Camels' victory on Dec. 15 in Buies Creek, the last time Liberty met Campbell on the hardwood was March 7, 1994, the day Liberty claimed its first Big South Championship over the Fighting Camels with a 76-62 triumph in Charleston, S.C.

Recent Success Against Campbell Despite not playing a game in the series for 13 years until this year, the Flames have won four of the last six meetings and seven of the last 11in this series.

Liberty versus the Atlantic Sun Conference The Flames are 8-20 all-time against current members of the Atlantic Sun Conference. However, none of the eight wins came against a member institution during its current reign in the Atlantic Sun Conference.

Seven of the wins came against Campbell and one came against Belmont. Liberty beat Belmont 79-63 during the 1997-98 season, four years before the Bruins entered the Atlantic Sun. Liberty has notched three victories against former members of the conference while they were active participants. Liberty topped Centenary, 73-71, during the 1995-96 campaign. The Flames were victorious over Florida Atlantic, 84-79, during the 2002-03 season and they topped Florida International, 67-51, a game that was part of the 1996-97 schedule.

Ritchie McKay versus the Atlantic Sun Conference Prior to this season Ritchie McKay had never faced a current member of the Atlantic Sun Conference. Prior to the season, McKay did hold a 1-0 advantage over the conference, with an 88-66 victory on Dec. 29, 2004,over Troy State, when McKay was at New Mexico. Troy State left for the Sun Belt Conference the following year.

McLean Passes Scarborough on Liberty's All-Time Scoring List Alex McLean tallied 14 points at Virginia Tech on Dec. 19, giving the senior 629 markers in his career. That pushes him into 34th all-time in the Liberty annals, past FTN Color Analyst and former Flame, Tim Scarborough, who scored 616 points during his four-year career. McLean reached the broadcaster's mark in 41 career games, 46 fewer games than Scarborough.

Jeremy Anderson Makes Debut Freshman Jeremy Anderson appeared in his first contest for the Flames this season on Dec. 15 at Campbell after battling an injury to his right foot. Anderson scored six points on 2-of-4 shooting, while playing 15 minutes.

Early Start Liberty played its ninth game of the season on Dec. 4 against Presbyterian. The contest is two weeks earlier than last season, when the Flames faced Buffalo on Dec. 18, Liberty's ninth contest of the 2006-07 campaign.

Alex McLean and His Three-Point Shot Alex McLean has three career three-point field goals. All three buckets have come at Longwood's expense. McLean has gone 1-of-1 from behind the arc in each of his three appearances against the Lancers.

TeeJay Bannister Lending an Assist TeeJay Bannister is dishing out 6.0 assists per game this year. The average is the highest by a Flame since Kenny Gunn registered 6.5 helpers during the 1983-84 campaign. Bannister wasn't born until the June following that season.

Currently Bannister's assist average is the highest of any senior in program history, nudging Karl Hess and his 5.5 apg average in 1980, from the top spot.

TeeJay Bannister Approaches 300 Career Assists TeeJay Bannister currently has 298 assists in his collegiate career. Bannister registered 238 during his three years at Virginia. The senior currently has 60 helpers for the Flames this season.

Liberty Shooting Well The Flames has shot 58.3 percent (91-of-156) from the floor during their last three home games, all of which were wins. Liberty has also hit 44.8 percent (26-of-58) of its attempts from behind the three-point arc during the same span. Against Niagara (Dec.1) was the first time this season Liberty eclipsed the 60-percent shooting mark.